Influential Ukrainian deputy Tyshchenko purchased assets worth a million dollars during the war

An ex-manager of the closed “Velour” restaurant, owned by Mykola Tyshchenko, reportedly acquired a lavish property in Kozyn, apartments linked to the restaurant’s premises in the capital and a premium Mercedes-Benz minibus.

These acquisitions, include a house boasting four bedrooms, a cinema, a gym, an open-air pool and more, with an estimated value ranging from $888,000 to $1.8 million and an approximately 100 m² apartment valued at $270,000-$290,000. All this real estate was swiftly transferred to the former restaurant manager within just thirty minutes.

Additionally, in late August 2022, the same individual acquired a Mercedes-Benz V250 2016 minibus worth over $50,000. This minibus has been actively used by People’s Deputy Tyshchenko, evident in his trips to various regions and inspections he conducted. Sergiy Vakalchuk, the former director of LLC “VKF ‘Rymid’,” had no apparent official income to justify these purchases. Despite attempts to reach him, journalists failed to locate Vakalchuk at known addresses, including the recently acquired property in Kozyn. Mykola Tyshchenko, in response to inquiries made through an assistant, remained silent on the matter.

These developments follow earlier investigations into Tyshchenko’s activities, including controversies related to his restaurant’s operations during quarantine and contracts awarded to relatives. Tyshchenko’s role in attempts to gain publicity through military aid during the Ukrainian conflict has also been highlighted recently. Moreover, in November 2023, Tyshchenko and his wife filed for divorce.